Wow

In a post titled "Creature of the Left" Jim Riley had this to say about the Virginia Tech tragedy:

"So, all you liberal elitists and sanctimonious Europeans so ready to criticize Virginia and the U.S., take a long hard look at the drivel you’re spewing out into these young minds and see what it ultimately results in."

Wow.

I'm taking him off my blogroll- and I'll be doing a post tonight on which Virginia blogs still have him on their blogrolls after this.  One of the most depraved things I have seen on the internet in a long time.

Comments

[phriendlyjaime]

Good riddance. There are more blogs though, Ben, that have been politicizing this for days. Consider taking them off too.

Glad to see you are back to black.

[eileen]

Agree 100%, Ben. Good for you.

[John Wayne]

What's so offensive? It's true. The truth is that if the Right to Carry law applied to college campuses, many lives would have been saved and everyone reading this knows that.

[phriendlyjaime]

Shut up, heartless ass. Go spew your drivel on Red State or Free Republic. You aren't welcome here.

[Neal]

I don't care which side of the gun debate you're on, this isn't the time for it. It kills me just as much to hear people saying we need stricter laws right now as it does to hear people say to let everybody be packing heat. Come on, people. Take a step back.

[JMU Duke]

Good for you Ben.

Don Imus caused it.

[phriendlyjaime]

Well, I broke my blog trying to make it black. It doesn't matter though. I have noticed more than one blogger with an axe to grind has been politicizing this tragedy for days, and the roll needed to be updated anyway.

[Not Mary Matalin]

The owner of any blog is free to censor, edit, and de-link as he or she sees fit. One should just be aware of the impact that censorship has on a debate.

I often find tasteless opinions all over the blogosphere, but if I were to only interact with like-minded peers, I would never learn anything beyond that group's ideas.

[LAS]

Look, everyone knows that this terrible tragedy is directly attributable to the Clenis! And Demcorats, liberals, and progressives, naturally. As was 9/11. WWII. The flu epidemic of 1914. The decline and fall of the Roman Empire. Oh, yes, and let's not forget the battle of Thermoplyae.

The God that this Riley person worships is not the God I know.

[Not Jack Herrity]

Ben, I think you are making the correct decision and I would encourage you to make a similar decision about any blog that politicizes this event in the coming days, whether on the right or the left.

In many ways, this is Virginia Tech's 9/11. The community needs to be united in support for those whose lives have been irretrievably changed, not spending time pointing fingers at straw villains.

NJH

[republitarian]

"In many ways, this is Virginia Tech's 9/11. The community needs to be united in support for those whose lives have been irretrievably changed, not spending time pointing fingers at straw villains."

Like the left hasn't politicized that......

[not gretchen bulova]

Long overdue NLS. Good work

[James Young]

I don't find this any more offensive that those gun grabbers who are trying to advance their agenda based upon this tragedy. Will they get the boot, too, Ben?

[Not Larry Sabato]

James, I agree with what Governor Kaine said- just loathing the people who are turning this into politics.

[James Young]

To expand upon the point, one of the main points of the Conservative intellectual movement for the last six decades has been the proposition --- now generally accepted, I think --- that ideas have consequences. Just one for instance: many on the far Left blame the pro-Life movement for the murder of abortionists by a few crazies. But the pro-Life movement is no more responsible for such actions than the kids at Raising Dough ... er, Raising Kaine, are responsible for the murders at Tech. Perhaps one difference between "us" and "them" is that I'm perfectly willing to make/concede the point. I rarely see similar common sense from many on the far Left (present company excepted in both practice and from that categorization).

Ben, can you also drop Republitarian? I don't feel qualified to speak for everyone who has been directly impacted through having a family member at Virginia Tech, but I can speak for myself and I'm getting sick of his spew.

[James Young]

Agreed, Ben. That's the most sensible thing I've ever heard Kaine say. I hope it lasts until he puts together his legislative agenda next year.

So Riley is saying that the individuals who want to get guns off the street are those that caused this kid to drive to Roanoke, buy a guy, load it and kill 32 people? And that his rant against "debauchery" and "deceitful charlatans" was somehow placed into his head by Karl Marx? It is amazing to watch this guy, who already had no credibility, reach so far to score points for the right 2 days after a terrible tragedy like this.

Where's the anger over the Castle groups politicization? STD, the journal...it's been going on since the day after it happened.

What about this A**hole

http://corner.nationalreview.com/post/?q=YzllOTU0MDUzY2NhZDE2YmViYmRiNmE5ZjM1OWQxYTU=

[Catzmaw]

The focus on guns and gun control in the context of the Virginia Tech tragedy is not only too much politics at a time when we should instead be mourning the loss of all those lives, but is also misplaced. The real debate should be about this country's woeful mental health system and the fact that it is so very, very difficult to involuntarily hospitalize someone who is as sick as Cho obviously was. We can yammer about guns all we want, and both sides have plenty of valid points, but the real question is what can be done about those among us who deteriorate to the point that they're willing to commit mass murder. People such as Cho either have their own reasons ("you made me do this") or they adopt an extreme and homicidal version of some other viewpoint whether from the right or the left, but in the end they pose a danger to all of us and we should be trying to figure out how to prevent future occurrences.

[phriendlyjaime]

Catzmaw, I wrote a small blurb yesterday titled "Crazy and evil aren't illegal" and I included some of this sicko's "writings" if you can even call them that. Clearly disturbed person. I agree with you.

[phriendlyjaime]

anon 10:14-I saw that last night on Olbermann. It's crazy to me that these people think they know exactly what they would do as a bystander even though they have never been in such a tragic situation as the Tech family has. Despicable.

[Doug]

The Nats wore VT ball caps all last night. That's what I'm focusing on. Also beta bridge painted with "Hoos for Hokies". Everything else is stupid. Sorry- there are no stupid ideas, just stupid people.

Thanks for the post Ben.

[Doug]

The Hokie athletic family and entire campus community
as well as the surrounding Blacksburg community have been in my thoughts constantly since we first started hearing the news yesterday.

As someone from Oklahoma who has had to deal with a similar tragedy, I hope
it will help you all to know that colleagues across the nation are
thinking of you and, in many ways, it will be those of you in athletics and your talented student-athletes who will help the community return to what
"normal" is now because normal will never be the same again.

When we went through the days after the Murrah Federal Building bombing
in 1995, it was collegiate athletics that helped people begin to return to
their lives. In the Oklahoma City area, just as athletics did after
9-11, after a period of time people really wanted to cheer for their beloved
Sooners and Cowboys again. And while those contests didn't wipe the grief
away, it seemed a help just a little bit and you will learn that every
little bit helps.

I told Dave yesterday that the day the Murrah bombing happened, my Disney desk calendar had a quote from Alice in Wonderland -- "It would be so nice if something would make sense for a change." I still have it attached to my computer and it was the first thing I looked at yesterday.

Please know that the Hokie family is being remembered in our thoughts by the Sooner family as we ask for strength for you all to get through the days
ahead. Also, take comfort in the fact that the Hokie athletic family really will play a key role in helping everyone else get through this horrific,
senseless tragedy.

Debbie Copp
University of Oklahoma Athletics
Director of Publications

[N]

Jaime,

I agree completely, what is even more shocking to me is that National Review would allow that to even go up.

Anon 10:14

[phriendlyjaime]

As we mourn and don the Tech colors, we should also remember that tomorrow is the anniversary of Columbine. There will be greiving for those victims as well. This is a very somber week, and as Doug pointed out, we are not alone.

Riley's post isn't even about gun control. Some folks want to politicize this issue for or against gun control. But Riley here just implicated the left and progressive academics in particular for causing this massacre.

Jim, not only did your blogosphere existance just jump the shark, it jumped straight to the status of "sicko." You are truly a twisted person.

The only accurate part of that opinion piece from the NR is the part where he described himself as a chicken hawk. "Handguns aren't very accurate, and one of them was a .22, .22s aren't very dangerous, your chances are very good..." I think he should go share how good the odds are with the family members of the 32 students and faculty members who were murdered.

[phriendlyjaime]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070418/ap_on_re_us/virginia_tech_shooting

Another campus scare; these poor students...

Commenters on Riley's blog piece that are sticking up for him need to be removed too, if they have a blog, Ben.

[What Next]

"People who want to take this within 24 hours of the event and make it their political hobby horse to ride, I've got nothing but loathing for them," Kaine said at a Tuesday evening news conference.

"To those who want to try to make this into some little crusade, I say: Take that elsewhere. Let this community deal with grieving individuals and be sensitive to those needs."

[phriendlyjaime]

Question: Did they cancel Shad Planking today?

[Doug in Mount Vernon]

Catzmaw, you really impress me. I think you're right on the money.

I know Republitarian is not suggesting that the "left" or Democratic Party people politicized 9-11. Talk about revisionism!

In response to What Next's post: I've commented elsewhere that I'm very glad for the leadership we've seen both from Governor Kaine and from GA leaders on both sides of the aisle. They've approached Monday's events with a lot of class, a lot of emotional and spiritual depty, and a lot of common-sense.

Special kudos to the Governor for forming an independent investigation to review the response of Virginia Tech to the initial shooting. My gut tells me that in the end, VT really did make the best decision with the information they had at hand--they treated the initial shootings like any police unit would handle any other homicide, which was only a mistake because this ended up not being any other homicide. Still, a lot of people have questions, and the students, faculty and family members in the Virginia Tech community deserve thorough, independent answers.

[BDM]

In reading all the comments here, I feel that there is a lot of emotion running around with everything that happened at Virginia Tech and understandably so. As a teacher, I had twenty of my seniors from last year go there and was scared that one of them had gotten killed.

Whether or not Jim Riley actually believes in what he said on his blog is something I don't know. Maybe it is emotion, but I suggest Ben you ask him first, just to make sure. He might make a retraction and say he was overly emotional. If not and he honestly believes it, then it is your blog and you can do what you wish.

I think it is really sad that less than a few hours after the shooting the politicizing occurred.

I feel we must all remember something:

We are Virginians! We rally to our people and help them. We have led the way for centuries and we shall continue to lead the way. We are the standard bearers of our country. Virginia Tech will be resilient and rise back up because Virginians will make sure one of our schools never suffers again. We are Virgnians and may God bless our great and glorious Commonwealth!

[Doug]

Man, I will say one thing political, and I bet I get 100% support on this:

We had a dumbass bomb threat this morning at Burress. A few nuts will do things like this, but its the one time I wish we would bring back an archaic unconstitutional punishment like public flogging.

So keep in mind, down here we are dealing with the grief AND this sort of BS.

[Alice Marshall]

Ben you can link or delink whoever you want. You can comment on other people's blogrolls or anything else you want. Just don't expect anyone to take it seriously.

Anonymous is a Woman said it best, there are many ways to grieve, what we are seeing in blogosphere is playing out off line as well.

At this point in time, we don't know if this tragedy could have been prevented by different -- stricter or less strict -- gun control laws. We may never be able to answer that question. We do know that trying to discuss that issue at this time is wrong. There is too much pain. We do know that this tragedy is not the fault of a political ideology, liberalism or conservatism. If anything, or sense of mutual loss and common humanity should keep us from the type of destructive rhetoric Ben is taking a stand against. I don't know what the final step is in solving the problem of this type of killing. I do think the first step is for us to show compassion to one another. If we can't do that, we won't move along to the other steps.

[Chris]

I am of the opinion that when someone as obviously sick as this guy was, no laws or good intentions or anything will eventually stop him. From everything I've read, VT faculty and staff did everything they could to help this kid when his problem was recognized. But the girls he was stalking never pressed charges, so in the end there was nothing anyone could do. We need to stop making this a pro or anti-2nd amendment debate when that has nothing to do wtih it. This guy would have found a way to do this.

So can we agree on that and just stop this. Its only been two days.

[phriendlyjaime]

Chris, sorry I will miss you for our beer. Just not up to the whole shad planking event today. We'll cheers together at another time.

[Jason]

Tragically, people are going to blame a culture for this one way or another. Whether they blame gun culture or video game culture or a culture of liberal elitists, a culture will bear the brunt of this as one always does after something like this, justified or no.

But people have different ways of grieving. Some cry, some tune it out, some seek the comfort of others, some seek solice and security by trying to find someone or something to hold at fault, something they can target and strike back at and hopefully try and ensure this doesn't happen again.

Let people grieve. Let time go by and see where people stand after the shock wears off. Then make decisions as to what to do with them.

[Chris]

Jaime, I decided not to go--I was with the Tom Davis people. They canceled as well. I think the Planking is still going to happen but from what I know, its just going to be a solemn gathering. All the beer and food was canceled. Bolling is going to give speech or something. Its going to be more of a tribute. I'm disappointed becasue I wanted to go, but I'm glad its not going to happen the way it normally does. That would have been awful.

[Publius]

I agree too early for the politization of the VA Tech Massacre. However, is an OPINION illegitimate if NLS doesn’t like it?

[phriendlyjaime]

I have a request...

The images all over the web of heartfelt cartoons and the combination of college logos are beautiful, poignant, and emotional. This week, the term "Hokie Nation" became very true. We are, and will remain, a Hokie nation. I request that someone with photoshop skills create a picture of the map of the US, completed in the Hokie colors, or whatever creative concept one thinks of. I would if I could, but I can't. Thanks in advance to anyone who reads this and can comply.

[phriendlyjaime]

Glad to hear that, Chris. Today is not the day to party.

From what I heard through the grapevine, the BW3s downtown that Thadd and I have always gone to for tOSU games and Tech games alike has been playing the news on at least one of the big screens. Folks are coming in to chat and they are donning the colors. They are drinking beer and eating wings still, but they are also lending their shoulders and hearts to strangers and friends alike. I hope this continues.

We will never forget. We are, and remain, a Hokie nation.

[Doug]

My wife, a VT alum, just let me know the national alum society is trying to arrange a national orange and maroon day Friday. Pass the word, we're going to get the whole country in Hokie colors. (UVA folks have been so awesome you only have to wear orange.)

Oh, and the statement of Riley's, if it had been the exact opposite too (some railing against conservative values or BS like that) would have been just as much of a statement of complete assholery.

[phriendlyjaime]

Doug-I went to 3 sports stores last night, as I don't have a Tech sweatshirt. They have all sold out. I did order one online, though. I will wear it proudly for days and weeks to come.

[Ward Smythe]

Jaime,

Kilo has already posted something similar to your request:

http://kilosparksitup.blogspot.com/2007/04/hokie-nation.html

[phriendlyjaime]

Thanks very much, Ward.

[Not Frank Hargrove]

Poor VPI. A pall will be cast forever over my fair university. I'm not real religious, but those who are, please pray for those who were taken in this tragedy.

[LAS]

I don't understand how reasonable and non-inflammatory pleas for better mental health care, a better security plan, more gun control or less gun control--no matter how "politicizing" you feel they may be--can be put on a par with Mr. Riley's tirade above.

Good grief, he sounds like Pol Pot--indicting entire segments of the population for nebulous crimes against the state. What--advocating gay marriage led to this tragedy? Or the theory of evolution?

Just as heinous, IMHO, is James Young's proudly declaiming the so-called conservative notion that "ideas have consequences." Dude, do you not get the painful irony of what you just wrote? None so blind as he who will not see...

And now this unfortunate young man has become a progressive? God help us, you all are a nervy lot. That takes chutzpah to a whole other level.

"is an OPINION illegitimate if NLS doesn’t like it?"

You're just now figuring this out? That's s.o.p. for NLS.

Reading Riley's responses to the comments against him make him sound even worse.

[Stloimpure]

Although it is your right NLS to delete anyone from your blog roll, it seems immature...I have NO problem with you making a post condemning what was said by virtucon, (and i even to an extent agree with him, i just think this is ANY time for saying things like that) but to call on people to remove him is kinda childish, it is NOT the worst thing said, i have seen MUCH worse things said by people commenting on your own blog, and you did not decide to censor them, so it seems hypocritical to try to censor someone on his own blog, when you don't do it to those on your own blog... that is my two cents

[Mad Hatter]

Hmm. Politicizing such a tragedy is shameful for both sides. But why call for a moratorium on contact with those that do? I am of the opinion that a mans words speak for him. If those words lead me to lose respect for him (they did, in this case), then so be it.

While I am against politicizing the results of the actions of one very deranged young man, I do believe there are lessons to be learned and that these lessons will be decided upon in the future by - surprise - politicians.

Just out of curiosity - Was it ok for people to politicize Columbine? Those senseless killings that occurred 8 years ago tomorrow were used to push through gun legislation.

:patiently awaits castigation:

[phriendlyjaime]

Welcome, Mad Hatter. Anyone who also uses the ::explain action:: function is a friend of mine. :)

::high fives Mad Hatter::

[JC]

To Eileen: Yes, wouldn't we all like to send our children to school on a campus where roommates and classmates might be carrying loaded guns? What fell through here was a system that should have taken the shooter off campus--it seems that there were several opportunities to do so. The ease of getting semi-automatic hand guns in Virginia just might have had something to do with it, too. I shudder to think of the usual college carousing that would be marred by a Wild West atmosphere where everyone carried a gun to defend himself. The idea is insane on its face.

[Phil Chroniger]

Riley's comments were a trite "too much", especially given the incredibly bad timing of said remarks.

So, I've taken him off my blogroll for a while in protest, and I probably will not read his columns for a while.

However, I can't say that he was completely wrong in his comments, and Black Velvet Bruce Li brought up a factual point that referred back to the immediate time period after the Oklahoma City bombings, and it does provide a bit of background to what Riley said. After reading BVBL's blog, I have somewhat tempered my initial disapproval of Riley's remarks.

Those remarks, and the tone used, could've waited until at least the end of the week, when the political aspect of all of this will certainly be coming from a simmer to a boil.

[eileen]

Judy, why are you addressing me with your comment? I haven't done any commenting save the 2nd one in this thread saying I agreed with Ben. ?

[LAS]

So, Phil, it's all the fault of the marxists? Uhm, how many marxists do you know? Are there any left?

Seriously, this is an extremely fallacious argument.

Look, Timothy McVeigh and this unfortunate young man were both deranged and angry, unhappy. mal-adjusted people. But McVeigh's mass murder WAS a political act. He targetted a U.S. federal building. Cho just went after the girl who wouldn't have anything to do with him and his fellow students. Some may have been rich; I'm guessing most were just average.

If this was some sort of "class warfare" attack, he could have gone to any number of places and been assured of a lot more wealthy people. McVeigh didn't go to a Walmart to look for federal employees and Cho didn't go to a country club to find his victims.

[phriendlyjaime]

I think Judy is confused. VV is going to be sorry he wrote that, in light of the recent turn of events. This guy was crazy in epic proportions. See my blog for more.

[eileen]

I'm starting to think this one day of blog silence needs to come sooner than April 30th.

[Heartbroken]

Have you been following VV today and reading what Riley and others have written? Not only am I heartbroken for the families of loved ones lost at Virginia Tech, but this liberal blogger is heartbroken for the Virginia blogosphere for the vile spewing from this blog. NLS, you absolutely did the right thing to remove VV and by all means remove any other blog that supports this garbage.

[Mike]

1. In Virginia, there is a “one handgun per-month” law. Therefore, it took two months for him to purchase 2 handguns. This fact has been documented in the transaction records.

2. Since at the time of purchase he was not a convicted felon, he passed both background checks. Until the State Police have the ability to see into the future, it will be impossible to predict criminal intent at the time of purchase.

3. He was deemed mentally unstable in 2005 by a circuit court. Privacy laws in the US prevent mental records from being attached to a criminal record unless they pertain to the commission of a crime. This fact made his mental status invisible on the background checks. If any law needs to be changed, it is how we report mental status in regards to criminal background checks.

4. All state universities in VA are deemed “gun-free zones.” Whereas universal armament is clearly NOT the answer, the designation of a gun-free zone affords a criminal the knowledge that any armed resistance is highly unlikely.

5. It is clear that (short of the establishment of a police state) it is impossible for law enforcement to fully protect the citizenry from this type of tragedy. In most scenarios, law enforcement serves only to limit the extent of the damage. For this reason, the right for a law-biding citizen to carry a firearm remains central to their ability to protect themselves.

6. There are currently 250 Million firearms in the United States. In a nation that cannot control illegal immigration, it is highly unlikely that we could control the illegal importation of illegal firearms, if and when a universal gun-ban was enacted. Since criminals, by definition have no regard for the law, it is inevitable that a gun-ban would ensure that only criminals would have guns.

In conclusion, the only law that needs to change is the one which prevents courts from reporting mental illness on a criminal record. However, after seeing his video confession it is clear that even in a world devoid of firearms, he would have utilized other means. To blame guns is to see the forest despite the trees.

[Phil Chroniger]

LAS, maybe I should bullet-point this so you understand my perspective.

- The tone and timing of VV's comments, I do not condone.
- The harsher aspects of VV's comments, I do not condone.
- BVBL posted some facts that explained VV's post, and in a much calmer fashion, that allowed me to see the sense of the POV...if not the comments themselves.

As I said, I don't agree with Riley's candor, nor the extremity of his comments. However, his POV and the point he was making...I can see it for what it is, and I can agree with it to a certain extent.

[St. Lo Impure]

Mike,
I agree with you, BUT this is not the time or place, yet, my word give a little time before jumping all over this, don't defend your belief, quite yet, give some time of silence...
and whoever asked if there are marxists left is an idiot. I don't normally say that, but sorry that was just a dumb comment, i don't know much about the case, or if this guy was a devout follower of marx, but to imply that there are no marxists left is just plain stupid...

[St. Lo Impure]

Yeah, i was really impressed with what BVBL said, it was an actual logical statement.

[Anonymousisawoman]

I don't think Cho was a follower of Karl Marx and I would guess that very few people are in Virginia.

He was just very disturbed and filled with resentment and he did a terrible thing.

And I think people are looking for meaning for this, sometimes in desperate ways. Some people can just be with their grief. They can come together and find comfort in each other and in silence and mourning.

Others need to try to find meaning and explanations. They are just different styles of grieving. And even anger is an aspect of grief.

This week, I'd about give anybody a pass, at least temporarily, regardless of how discordant their statements seem to my ears.

[NoVA Scout]

We know nothing of Cho's "political" philosophy. We do know he was a very disturbed person. There are some things that are not political. From what has been published to date (I haven't heard or seen the NBC materials), I haven't yet seen anything that makes this look like it reflects politics of any stripe. I've assumed that Jim Riley was not serious and essayed a clumsy send-up of strange people who see everything as some kind of political statement at a time when, understandably, no one has much patience with satire.

[johnmaxfield]

No, I really don't think that Riley wasn't serious. He was as serious as a heart attack. And you know, he's right. Perhaps it's time to start asking the hard questions. Riley has a legitimate right to say whatever he wants. I say Huzzah for him, too.

"We know nothing of Cho's "political" philosophy. We do know he was a very disturbed person."

Perhaps not. But I'll tell you one thing, what it boils down too, is if this dude ever went into the ballot box, he wasn't voting the conservative ticket....

More here: http://johnathanmaxfield.blogspot.com/2007/04/reily-censored.html#links

[Doug]

Screw you John. Who the freak says "huzzah"? This is the 21st century and this was a person with an intense mental sickness, not a political philosophy in any manner.

Here's non political anger for you- go back to your hole and pray your mom doesn't find you've raided her cheetos, yohoos and bugles.

[thaddaeus toad]

Mike-
You make a compelling point. I think you do sacrifice the privacy of your mental state when you seek to buy a gun. Last year, the Republican 109th couched the "National ID act" into a defense appropriations bill. It would provide that biometric information would be obtained for an ID/driver's license. Surely, if in order to drive we shall have to provide our genetic secrets, in order to buy a gun, you should have to pass a psychological screening. You'd apply for a gun license from your State, and then present it to a gun dealer.

Of course, there will still be illicit guns sales, but the fact that ordinance doesn't do away with murder doesn't change our laws against it.

[johnmaxfield]

Doug--way to play on your emotions and not on substantiated facts and sources. If your intent was to upset me, and hope I would change the subject--t'won't work...do you deny that they main points Cho made, are not parallels of the stance of some members in the Democrat-ick party?

[Alton Foley]

Ben,
when did you begin blocking HTML links?

[NoVA Scout]

JM: how do we know that? I'm sorry, I have no idea how anyone can find political motivations in this. The man was deranged. What "ticket" was he vointg? Whether Riley was being arch or not, you're serious. That's pretty disturbing. 33 innocent people are dead and you're trying to make sure we think the shooter is a liberal(?!) You need to think about this a little more.

[Mad Hatter]

He also talked a lot about Jesus. That is very characteristic of Bush and the other right wingers.

Well?

Stop trying to cast the blame on a political ideology. The guy was deranged. Politics don't make someone do this - insanity does.

Show some respect for the dead... let this discussion die.

[NoVA Scout]

I need to file a correction: Make that "32 innocent people and 1 guilty as hell person"

[St. Lo Impure]

Amen hatter...

[johnmaxfield]

"You need to think about this a little more."

Do I really? Maybe I need to think about one of my good friends who was shot at. She escaped. Maybe I need to think of one of my friends who was only a floor above the shootings at West AJ. Maybe I need to think about my friend who got turned away and had to run back to his dorm room to escape the police converging on Norris Hall. Those were my closest friends. I know what is going on down there and I'm not making light of anything. This incident has touched closer to me than probably most of you all commenting against Riley.

These questions that I, Riley, STD, etc. are posing are questions that need to come out. And they will.

You may disagree with me, but don't you dare say that I need to think about this more.

[Doug]

John- I meant to say- screw you. There was no more meaning to that. Does there need to be? You are a jerk, shit, ass, whatever you like. I look for nothing more from you, I'm just telling you what I think you are.

[johnmaxfield]

That's always good. That lifts up the conversation. Good blogging ethics. Maybe you and Waldo should get together and swap manly recipes.

[St. Lo Impure]

Doug, grow up, it is obvious he is hurting and angry, so just grow up doug, be a man and let him grieve, you are being and all around A**

[Spank That Donkey]

Doug:
You are a brilliant debater!

[johnmaxfield]

Thank you, St. Lo Impure. I am hurting. We all are. Anyone who isn't, needs his heart examined. But am I angry? To an extent. But it's not an overriding, blind feeling. I allow logic to enter my emotions and don't allow my emotions to dictate my logic. The same cannot be said for most in this comment section.

[LAS]

So now Cho was not just a Marxist, not just a left-winger, but a Democrat? Based on the fact he was--jealous of people with nice cars?

What the hell are you guys smoking? Is their no depth to which you will not sink to score partisan points? This is so asinine that I can't believe I'm even answering you, but I'll be dammed if I'm going to allow you to spread this filth around uncontested, so here goes:

Lefties don't, in general, buy into the whole gun culture thing and go postal. We're wussies, remember? Are there any left-wing militias? Well, there are plenty of the other kind--with guns! Any lefties in the KKK or white supremist groups? I'm thinking not. Timothy McVeigh was a right-wing nut. Ted Bundy was a Republican campaign worker in Florida. The guy who killed the Amish girls--definitely not a leftist. Oh, and the guy who holds the previous record for most murders committed at one time, the perpetuator of the California McDonald's massacre, HATED Carter, so I'm guessing he wasn't a Democrat, either.

And you know what? With the possible exception of McVeigh, NONE of those mass murderers were politically motivated. The fact that they may have voted Republican or supported conservative candidates and/or causes had NOTHING to do with their depravity and lunacy. And ditto for Cho.

Jesus Christ, give us strength!

[St. Lo Impure]

"you guys" i ain't smoking nuttin'...so chill out, I mean are y'all all most all too immature to give a period of grieving before blah blah, and yadda yadda?

[NoVA Scout]

JM: anger seems like a rational, universal and appropriate response. My suggestion was that you re-think the part about whether Cho's actions were motivated by political alignments with liberal causes. There are some things that aren't explained by politics. This guy was profoundly disturbed. There's no indication that he was any more politically driven than the guys at Columbine. Eventually we can talk about whether the political process can be effectively used to address conditions that let this happen. Most of us are saying: Not this week.

[Phil Chroniger]

This issue has almost nothing to do with political affiliations or ideologies.

This issue has very little to do with 2nd Amendment issues.

The issue at hand is the general mental stability of your average college student...which is pretty much in the dumps. Crazy, crazy stuff.

[Phil Chroniger]

This issue has almost nothing to do with political affiliations or ideologies.

This issue has very little to do with 2nd Amendment issues.

The issue at hand is the general mental stability of your average college student...which is pretty much in the dumps. Crazy, crazy stuff. You've got your anti-gun and pro-gun debaters out in force over the web.

Now, the conservatives and liberals are starting to make this an ideological issue.

[The Richmond Democrat]

Let the Right Wingers rant. I just hope Ben saves this thread. We'll be quoting back to them, to the press, and the undecided voters in the not too distant future.

Exploitation of national tragedy is what the Republican Party is about.

[Kilo]

Why don't you file suit against them JC?

Where's your post from last night on the blogs still linking to Virtucon? So extensive that you're still working on it?

Oh, and you forgot to put in the "?" at the end of the original post's title -- it is "A Creature of the Left?" as opposed to "A Creature of the Left" as you have it. Makes a world of difference when you read it that way. One is posing a question (as that post was), the other is making a statement (which that post was not.)

LAS -- "Any lefties in the KKK or white supremist groups?"

Yeah, the President Pro Temp of the U.S. Senate and the second highest Democrat in the line of presidential succession -- Robert K.K.K. Byrd.

Ben, you were supposed to do a follow up last night. Are you planning on following up with this? BC as all can see, the comments over on the site have gotten beyond disgusting and despicable.

Please keep your promise. Thanks.

[James Young]

Actually, Doug, my oldest son says "Huzzah!" Damned if I know from whence he got it.

[Spank That Donkey]

Kilo:
You are a cruel, cruel man :-)

[Mad Hatter]

It's so cute watching you children at play :O)

Stop flaming each other and let your emotions die down so that you can have a logical conversation. Then you can both benefit from talking about it, rather than just getting all worked up about nothing.

Sheesh.

[Jeff Lieberman]

Thank you Ben. I dont look at blogs often, much less comment, but I am a VT student and friend of Ben and I appreciate what he did. Some people are angry at Ben because he chose to delete his link to this guy. Obviously you are right that the man has the right to express himself, but so does Ben and he is choosing to exercise his own discretion in removing his link that would generate more readers for this guy based on something that he believes to be of bad taste (not something that he just disagrees with). I also appreciate the comments by phriendlyjane.. whoever she is.
-Jeff